6 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



equalled in their past history. Some of them have now become 

 practically free from the indebtedness which they had incurred in 

 the purchase of grounds and the erection of buildings, and are 

 prepared to enter upon a career of increased vigor and usefulness. 



The high prices alluded to have, however, had the effect to 

 reduce the number of sheep in the State, for though a large 

 increase has taken place in the number and size of our flocks 

 since 1860, there was an actual falling off during the past year, 

 which can hardly be accounted for on any other supposition than 

 that the high price obtained, with the ready market, has sent them 

 into the hands of the butcher. This is to be regretted. Sheep 

 husbandry forms a prominent branch in almost every improved 

 system of agriculture, and in many countries it has done more 

 than anything else to lay the foundation of material wealth and 

 prosperity. We ought to keep a vastly larger number of sheep 

 than we do, and since we have an efficient law for their pro- 

 tection against dogs, it is not easy to see why greater attention 

 is not devoted to this branch of farming. 



We have additional reason for congratulation in that while 

 other countries, and especially Great Britain, have suffered 

 immense losses from the cattle plague, or steppe murrain, we have 

 been spared from the further spread of the destructive, though 

 less terrible pleuro-pneumonia, for though we may not exult in 

 in its complete and final extermination, but few cases have 

 occurred, and the expense of watching the disease has been 

 comparatively slight. 



In accordance with law and custom I hereby submit the 

 Report of the Commissioners on Contagious Diseases of Cattle, 

 which is as follows : — 



To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth 



of Massachusetts. 



The Commissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle, 

 submit the following report. , 



Calls have been received to visit ten different towns during 

 the last year, in three only of which has contagious pleuro- 

 pneumonia been found, viz. : Chelmsford, Dedham and Nahant. 



At the time of our first visit to Chelmsford, February 7th, 

 one of a herd belonging to Charles Adams had died aboiit two 

 weeks previous, and two others were slightly ill. ■ 



